A couple more weeks passed. The sprawling Li Clan estate existed in a state of disciplined calm, its daily rhythm a testament to its power.
Today, however, the focus was on business. It was the day of the quarterly meeting, where the clan's elders, key managers, and influential figures gathered to assess their dominion.
Li Wei moved through the opulent corridors of the main administrative hall. His presence commanded immediate, deferential bows from every servant and guard he passed. As the eldest son of the main wife and the heir apparent, his attendance was mandatory.
He had also instructed Mei to ensure every Li Clan youth of suitable age was present at the estate. He intended to address them after the main proceedings.
He entered the grand reception chamber adjacent to the main hall. His eyes immediately found his mother, a woman of serene elegance named Huang Qing, who was conversing with his younger brother, Li Yao.
"Mother," Li Wei greeted, his tone respectful yet carrying its usual undercurrent of authority.
Huang Qing turned, her warm smile a stark contrast to the room's simmering tension. "Wei'er, you're looking well. Are you taking care of yourself amidst all this activity?"
"I am, Mother," he replied, his gaze briefly sweeping over the other women in the room—the Patriarch's other wives and concubines, including Li Feng's mother. "There is much to do, but I am prepared."
Huang Qing nodded, a soft pride in her eyes. "I know you are. I'm proud of the man you've become."
Li Yao, eager for attention, stepped closer. "Brother, I've made a breakthrough in my cultivation! I'm practicing the techniques you showed me, and I'll catch up to you when I'm your age!"
"Good," Li Wei said, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Keep practicing."
The simple statement made Li Yao stand even taller.
Before their conversation could continue, a profound pressure filled the room, causing the very air to thicken. An elderly man with hair as white as snow and eyes that held the weight of centuries entered. This was Li Zongyuan, Li Wei's grandfather, the Grand Elder and former Patriarch.
A cultivator at the half-step Spirit Transformation stage, he was one of the primary reasons the Li Clan stood as a continental power.
"Grandfather," Li Wei said, offering a respectful nod that held none of the fear others displayed.
Li Zongyuan's ancient eyes, usually placid, held a sharp, appraising glint as they locked onto his grandson, bypassing everyone else. "I have heard the whispers, Wei'er. The Saint Root is a gift, a rare fortune that few in a millennium are blessed with."
He paused, his gaze intense. "It grants a headstart, yes. But a powerful foundation means nothing without the will to build upon it. Raw talent is but kindling; it must be fed with relentless effort to become a roaring inferno."
"I will remember that, Grandfather," Li Wei responded, his voice calm but absolute.
He then moved to take his seat at the head of the gathering. Soon, the Patriarch, Li Yuan, arrived, and the meeting commenced.
Elders and managers delivered reports on trade, spirit stone mines, and political maneuvering within the Grand Xia Empire. For Li Wei, most of it was tedious, but one item sparked his interest: a breakthrough in their conquest of the Flowing Sand Kingdom.
"Our agents have successfully turned three of the five royal princes against their father," a manager reported in a low, confidential tone. "The primary objective is now within our grasp. Full control of the kingdom is now a matter of months, not years."
As the meeting drew to a close, Li Wei approached his father. "Father, I wish to address all the clan's youth who are present."
Li Yuan nodded his assent.
Soon, the chamber was filled with the younger generation of the Li Clan. Li Suying was there, her calm demeanor masking her power. And beside her stood Li Yating, Li Wei's nineteen-year-old half-sister. She had joined the Empyrean Sword Sect ten months prior and was only visiting, her expression one of mild curiosity.
Li Wei's gaze swept over them, a predator assessing his pack.
"The Soaring Dragon Assembly begins in one week," he began, his voice cutting through the room and silencing all murmurs. "I will be participating. And so will all of you."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.
"Every Li Clan member below the age of twenty who has reached the Qi Condensation Realm will compete. I will not accept a refusal."
His eyes landed pointedly on Li Yating, who instinctively stiffened.
"This is not a request. It is a command. The Li Clan is not defined solely by the older generation. Our strength, here and now, will be the foundation that elevates this clan above all others, even the Royal Family itself. I will show the empire that our new generation is a tidal wave, not a ripple. You will show them with me."
He let the silence hang for a moment, heavy and threatening.
"And understand this clearly," Li Wei's voice dropped, becoming lethally soft. "This is not for glory. This is for duty. Anyone who fails to place within the top hundred of the qualifiers... will be punished. Brutally."
As his gaze swept the room one last time, he turned and left, his unyielding back the final image of his decree.
Li Yating stood frozen, her brain still trying to process the whiplash. One minute, she was enjoying a rare holiday visit with her cousin Li Suying, planning which teahouses and restaurants to visit. The next, she was being conscripted into her brother's grand scheme.
So much for a vacation, she thought, glancing at Li Suying, who looked as unbothered as ever. Of course she did.
Looking at his departing figure, Li Yating sighed. Her relaxing holiday had just ended.